Keeping the total amount of fat you consume in check is vital to preventing high cholesterol, according to the American Heart Association. The two types of fat associated with high cholesterol are saturated and trans fats, which can cause your low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, to rise. Egg Beaters are a heart-healthy egg substitute that provide you many essential nutrients without fat and cholesterol.
About Egg Beaters
Egg Beaters are whole egg substitutes manufactured by ConAgra Foods. ConAgra makes five different products: Egg Beaters Original, Egg Beaters Egg Whites, Egg Beaters Southwestern, Egg Beaters Cheese and Chive and Egg Beaters Garden Vegetable. All of the products rely on egg whites as their core ingredient; the egg yolk is removed and replaced with added nutrients. According to the manufacturer's website, the vitamin beta carotene is what gives Egg Beaters products their yellow, "egg-like" color.
Egg Beaters Nutrition
According to manufacturer's data, Egg Beaters Cheese and Chive contain 1g total fat per 1/4 cup serving, only 0.5 of which is saturated fat. All other Egg Beaters products contain no fat at all. Comparatively, a whole egg contains 4.97g total fat, 1.55g of which is saturated or "unhealthy" fat. Egg Beaters are also a low-calorie food; products have between 25 and 35 calories per serving depending on the flavor you choose, compared to the 70 to 75 in a whole egg. Egg Beaters and whole eggs provide roughly the same amount of protein, between 5 to 6g per serving or egg.
No Cholesterol
Egg Beaters are well-known for their primary health benefit: the products contain no dietary cholesterol, although the Cheese and Chive-flavored product contains scant amounts -- less than 5mg per serving. Dietary cholesterol is found only in the egg yolk; a single whole egg contains around 210mg of cholesterol. According to MayoClinic.com, most healthy adults should consume less than 300mg of cholesterol a day, while people with high cholesterol and heart disease should eat less than 200mg a day.
About Dietary Fat
If your blood cholesterol levels are on the uptick, it's vital to keep your total fat intake in check, according to the American Heart Association. The AHA advises getting less than 25 to 35 percent of your total calories from fat, and less than 7 percent saturated fat from your caloric intake. Limit trans fats to less than 1 percent of your total calories.
Cooking With Egg Beaters
Egg Beaters can be scrambled or prepared the same way you would an omelette; however, you can also use them as an egg substitute when cooking and baking. According to the manufacturer, 1/4 cup Egg Beaters is the equivalent of one egg. Baking with egg whites can result in baked foods with a slightly dry texture; the AHA suggests adding a tbsp. of canola, safflower, sunflower or soybean oil to your recipe for moister goodies.
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